A chess grand master has played his toughest game – while skydiving from a plane thousands of feet above the ground.

Timur Faridovich Gareyev, 31, was able to carry out the stunt just days before he was due to contest the San Diego Chess Open in California.

PIC BY US CHESS / CATERS NEWS

The chess player who is originally from Tashkent, Uzbekistan is an experienced skydiver with 150 jumps under his belt.

Timur jumped from the aircraft wearing a chequered jumpsuit with the chess pieces fixed onto the board.

Because the chess wizard was falling at speeds in excess of 120mph, Timur had to fix a small cone underneath the chess board to make it aerodynamic.

PIC BY US CHESS / CATERS NEWS

Jennifer Vallens, who works with Timur, said: “The enjoyment on the irrepressible Gareyev’s face is palpable.

“Imagine how your hand reacts to the wind when you stick it out a car window at 60 mph.

“Timur would be falling at 120 mph while ‘flying’ the board. This required the photographer to not just permanently attach the pieces but to also doctor the board with a cone attached underneath to help provide aerodynamic stability.”

PIC BY US CHESS / CATERS NEWS

Despite the conditions of the jump, Gareyev even set the board up in the position of a classic chess bout to add authentictiy.

Jennifer added: “Gareyev chose to set up a position based on a game from 1760 between Jean-JacquesRousseau and the prince de Conti, played in Montmorency, France.”